NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal - Free Agency Frenzy Day 1: Kirk Lands In Atlanta, Saquon to Philly, and more!

Episode Date: March 12, 2024

In a virtual room full of heroes - Dan Hanzus, Gregg Rosenthal, and Marc Sessler react to the opening of the negotiating window of free agency. The heroes open the show with the news that Kirk Cousins has agreed to a deal with the Falcons (02:30), Russell Wilson heading to the Steelers (14:53), Saquon Barkley moving on to Philadelphia (26:20), and the Packers landing Josh Jacobs (33:55). The guys also discuss moves made by the Jaguars (50:41), Dolphins (01:00:50), Colts (01:08:00), and more! Note: time codes approximate. NFL Daily YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/nflpodcastsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Boom, here it is. Here's your breaking news. Kirk Cousins is going to the Atlanta Falcons. He is leaving Minnesota. He is going to Atlanta. Sequin Barclay now has a deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Russell Wilson for next to no money because the Broncos are paying him is going to Pittsburgh.

A massive deal for Christian Wilkins, who now lands with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Green Bay Packers are signing Josh Jacobs. The Andre Swift headed to the Chicago Bears. Three years, $24 million for Tony Pollard and the Tennessee Titans. Oh my goodness. It's Insiders Christmas. Day one of the legal tampering period as we close it. in on the official start of a new league year on Wednesday, and yes, the moves were hot and heavy

across the NFL, and we are here around the NFL to document everything that's happened as of 440 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, and we'll continue to track things as we record this show, and like we said, we'll be doing shows all week. So everything you need to know about this big week on the league calendar, we got you. Dan Hans us here. Sessler, Greg Rosenthal, and here we go. Here we go, boys. It has started. And it is a frenzy as NFL network advertises. I don't even know if we need to do a show after that intro. We spoiled it all. That's it. That's it right there. Give me those bass drums and maybe we'll just dance. I thought that, you know, by doing an extra show yesterday, which we did not plan to do out

at the gate, that we helped ourselves, that we maybe, you know, cleared the deck. And like about a couple hours into today, it is a bushel of frenzy, a tornado of news items. I feel blinded. I'm just sitting in my hotel room, getting whipsawed by the news coming off tonight. No Van Ginkle in that opening credit. Some say that's a shot. It's a shot at Van Ginkle, but you know what he's going to do with that.

Look at it this way, Mark. If we didn't do the Sunday surprise up, we're looking at a killers of the flower moon length show today, Monday. So we did take care of business and we got ahead of it as best we could. But let's get into it. And yeah, the big move and you heard it there off the, off the bat was Kirk Cousins. And you knew Cousins was going to get paid handsomely. That's what Kirk Cousins does. You also knew some balloons coming up in your room there. What just happened? Why there balloons just went up on Cessler's screen. I mean, it's beautiful. We're just trying to get people to check out the YouTube. It's wonderful. I have no idea why that would have happened. I think

Randy is part of all of this. Randy, focus. I know your team made a lateral move at running back today in Green Bay, but we don't need to be, you know, not taking this serious. Gravitas is the order of the day as we get into the Kirk Cousins conversation after a run in Minnesota that featured a ton of production, not a lot of playoff success, but on balance. cousins again over his time with the Vikings, just like in his run with Washington, proved himself to be an answer at quarterback and a stable figure and a well-liked individual. You knew he was going to get the bag.

And on the first day of the legal tampering period, he does. And it's from the Atlanta Falcons, who agreed to a four-year, $180 million contract that came straight from his agent. His agent broke the news, I believe, which is outchers to all the insiders there. So Cousins finally brings some legitimacy to the quarterback position in Atlanta, Greg, a team that has been making incremental progress in the last couple of years, but it was always the quarterback that was holding them back. And while Cousins has not so far in his career shown us that he is a Super Bowl level quarterback, a championship quarterback, man, this is a massive upgrade and a no-brainer move, I think, for the Falcons. Yeah, I think it made sense for all sides, which is not a hot take, but it's starting with ownership in terms of Atlanta saying we need a quarterback,

and I think they're the ones pushing this, that they made this happen, Arthur Blank, that this, he was just sick of watching what he was watching and he was going to make it happen. I think it also makes sense that this is the time that Minnesota lets Kirk go. And the minute I started really believing Kirk was going to Atlanta was on Sunday when we just kept hearing over and over how Minnesota is really trying. Every single report was like, oh, Minnesota's really trying. They're staying in it. And it's like those are the reports of a front office that knows they're losing their guy

and wants everyone to know that they tried their hardest. And I'm sure they had a reasonable deal. And I think they are making a smart move, even as Atlanta is making a smart move in signing Kurt Cousins. I think Minnesota is making a smart move in choosing now 36 years old entering next season coming off a torn Achilles to be the time that you cut the cord and stop giving this guy this much money. Yeah, I'm with you. I think the time ended in Minnesota and you can tell that they're team building in a way where they're moving away potentially from Cousins and it's like they have to find a quarterback but I love the landing spot in Atlanta.

I think that Cousins, you know, he is 36, but if you get just three more years of him, and I think it could be more than that, he goes to a place that essentially was missing only a quarterback last year. And like if you're Arthur Smith, you're thinking, if you had Kirk Cousins a year ago, everything would have been different. I think for guys like Drake London, this is a level beyond human trigger pull that changes your career. We might finally get to see Kyle Pitts the way we've wanted to see him.

It's great for Bijon Robinson. You've got Zach Robinson, I think is a good fit for Kirk Cousins. And Rahim, like, Rahim Morris, like, first year coach here in Atlanta, like, lands, he came in saying, we want to do this. This was the one thing that got the last coach fired, and they went and did it in a short order. And I really love it for Falcons fans, because I think it changes that division entirely. And it's like you plug a quarterback into a team that probably could have made the playoffs last year if they had gotten, you know, 30, 40 percent better quarterback play.

The Falcons ranked 26th and points per game last year, 22nd and passing yards. So Cousins, I mean, you're paying, you're paying big time. It's $100 million we're hearing and guaranteed money for Cousins. So you're paying at a premium. That's going to come with other challenges now for Atlanta moving forward. But I think this was a move that while making sense also was one, it was almost like they threw their hands up.

And they're like, we've tried it different ways since Matt. Ryan got old and now we're just going to throw money at the problem and hope that cousins, yes, coming off a torn Achilles tendon entering his age 36 season will be that guy. I thought thinking about the deal and what it means in the NFC South, that the Baker deal in Tampa Bay, to me, which I already didn't love, it looks even a little worse now because they were, the reason they won that division at 9 and 8 is because in large part Atlanta it wasn't ready to make the leap. And I think certainly the desert is going to establish now that the Falcons are going to win that division. How deep can they go? Is this a team that can make a run

in the playoffs? We'll see. But there's pieces, Greg. That's the reason why, like, you guys were always more into the Falcons than I was. But this is a roster that is pretty close to making a run if they just got that competent quarterback play. And that's what Cousins does. Like probably, but they're totally different now. Their defense was overrated last year. They were good in a couple like points per game and stuff like that, but like talent wise, they're fine. And if you kind of look, you know, beneath the hood, as you would say, Dan and like DVOA, all this stuff, they were, they were a mediocre defense. It's going to be a totally different defense. I like Rahim Morris as a higher. We'll see how that works out.

Like, I think it'll work out, but it's a new offense. Kirk Cousins fits well in this offense. Drake London is a good number one. Is he a great number one? Like, we'll see. He's a nice guy to have. Pitts, to me, is a question mark. I'm not like suddenly saying, okay, Kyle Pitts is going to be awesome now. Kirk Cousins is a very up-and-down quarterback. Like, he is a streaky quarterback who at the end of the season looks like he's very consistent, but he'll be on fire for seven games, then he'll struggle for seven games or four games. Like, Vikings fans know that.

And I think he was worth the gamble. But it is funny that they kind of spent two to three years getting out of their old cap hell with Matt Ryan and all the dead cap hit they hit that they had on their cap a year ago, especially. And now they freed up as much cap space almost as any team in the league. And then you spend it all on Kirk Cousins. Before I get to you, Mark, I do want to mention, like, what the money is. It's essentially Daniel Jones's contract, which makes Falcons fans, I would think, feel better.

That it's like a two-year $90 million contract or $100 million contract with $10 million more in year three. That will be a penalty, essentially. If they want to give up on Kirk Cousins in year three, they got to give up $10 million. But teams have shown they're more than willing to do that. They've done that more. So it's basically a two-year contract with like a salary cap inflation bump from what Daniel Jones made. And that's not bad.

Then again, there's such little gap between like the Daniel Joneses and the Kirk Cousins and the Mahomes and the Lamar Jackson's of the world in terms of like one makes 45, one makes 51 or whatever it is that like it's a nice value when you have the really, really great ones. And in Kirk Cousins, I would not put in that category. I guess so when you say like they, like it's a different coaching staff and they are trying to keep their jobs. And like the last they lost their job because of poor quarterback playing. It's like you got two options in today's NFL.

Like you go get the best quarterback you can find or you don't. And we just saw the Falcons team that chose to not for two or three years in a row. And it's like this was the best option. It comes with some risk. You could also argue that Kirk Cousins was already surrounded by a ton of talent in Minnesota. especially at the wide receiver position. So it's not like he's going from rags to riches. But if you're the Falcons, it's like this was the prize.

You don't go get Gardner Minshu. You go get Kirk Cousins. And it's like, and you ride with it. And I think if you're a Falcons fan, you can say like our team is at least, they're swinging for the fences and we'll see how it goes. And congratulations to the Atlanta Falcons because I know one thing you've been thinking about this,

probably immediately what came to mind. And it is true. Listeners, I do now take your team seriously. So congratulations to the Atlanta. Atlanta Falcons. The Zuzer's in on a falcons run in 24. Speaking of Gardner Minshue, some breaking news. This will not be the first time you hear the breaking news drop. It is, after all, a free agent frenzy. Ian Rappaport reporting that the Raiders have agreed to terms with quarterback

Gardner Minchew on a two-year deal. He'll compete with Aiden O'Connell. That doesn't blow my socks off, but I guess, I mean, I'm trying to process this. I was thinking because Justin Fields is still out there and his market continues to shrink. And I thought maybe Fields in Vegas had some, I feel like Antonio Pierce would be able to ride with that. This one doesn't do as much for me,

but it brings another body in there. I mean, I guess it's smart of Gardner Minchu, the sign right after we start taping because if this had been like 30 minutes ago, he would be buried down in like, you know, 45 minutes in. But now he gets the- Here's the money, by the way. He gets it jump all the way to the time.

top. Yeah, here's the money, by the way, which can tell you about where they kind of want him to be on the roster. Two-year, $25 million deal. It includes $15 million fully guaranteed. So that tells me that, yeah, there's your starting quarterback for the Raiders in 2024. I'm surprised. Like, I mean, by the way, just to let you know from a showman angle, I mentioned Gardner Minchu, you know, anecdotally, because I saw it in the chat and I thought we could, and you went right off that perfectly. But I would say, um, even better as a showman would not to say that. Yeah, like, don't mention that.

No, we, on this show, when we, on this show when you do something of that ilk, you mention it. That's how it works. But like, I, we're killing other teams for settling on mid-tier quarterbacks. And I like Minchu as a plug-and-play guy in a pinch, but not as like we're going to, it's going to be, you know, March and we decide as our starter right now. Like, is that, is this, where's the draft situation? I think they can still draft someone. Dan, I disagree, though, that. this deal says he's a weak one starter or a starter at all.

If that guaranteed money is over two years, that's like backup money or bridge starter money. It shows that, like, him and Aiden O'Connell are probably competing, but it's very possible that they add a rookie to that mix, too, and then once you get to next year, it'd be even more likely than not that Minchu is the backup. What did Baker signed for last year? One year, $3 million. I get it. This is 15 million fully.

I think that this is, I don't know. We'll see. We're going to find out. I think it's bad news for Aiden O'Connell. That tells me that they're serious about him as a starter, potentially. I can't believe they wouldn't draft someone. He's certainly the favorite, but it's a nice threading the needle. I don't think it's that much where it's, you know, it's 12.5 million per year.

So it's above the high-end backup money, but it's way below the low-end starter money for the Raiders. So I think it's fine. targeted him and look I'd rather pay him $12 million than Baker 40 like no question if we're going to kill the Baker deal for being a little too much like this this makes more sense if you're you're in the middle and you raise a good point on fields and we'll get to the other teams today but there's been nothing on fields and there are just not a lot of places out there and I I've been personally as a Patriot like if you want me to get back into the Patriots give me Drake May at three and fields in a trade and just see what happens sure I'm with that I mean the

Fields, one thing that surprised me so far about this off season is that I really did think the Bears had some leverage with fields that, you know, even if they decided to go with the quarterback and the draft, which is obviously probably how this is going to play out, that they would get some value back. It's looking increasingly, you know, like the fields market is just not much of one at all. Let's stick with the, let's stick with the quarterback since we're on a roll here with them. because we can't, we can't delay any longer, because, you know, welcome to the Rust Belt. Russell Wilson is also off the board. He over in the middle of the night, we were out and about here in Austin, Texas. We're here for the IHeart Awards. And Rust Belt is a thing in Pittsburgh because he signs a very low money deal with the Steelers. And, you know, we talked about Pittsburgh. the idea that they might not be sitting on their hands here at quarterback, even though they were saying outwardly at the combine and before that,

that they were happy with their QB room. Here comes Russell Wilson, Mark, who is a depreciated asset. But again, and you were just talking about it, Greg, about Minchu. With the money, what you get for the player, this is a signing of Russell Wilson, where Pittsburgh is, it's a, what, less than $2 million that they're paying. It's still Denver on the hook for his massive salary. So I think it's an upgrade. Is it a progress stop or that's where it becomes a conversation, I think? I don't have a problem financially with taking a shot at him. I think actually that's sort of a

smart move for a team that needs to upgrade a quarterback. Like if you remove the Russell Wilson experience out of it, I guess for me, just sort of ruminating on this situation. Because again, I think it's like he could, he's more productive than I think people think over the last, you know, year plus where it's like people have written them off entirely and he can still play i would believe in an arthur smith run heavy attack i don't hate it but i would say this like i cannot pick a team out of 32 NFL teams where i would say russell wilson fits less with my life experience of that team everything i think about the pittsburgh steelers and everything i think about russell wilson it is like two magnets on your fridge that you try to like press together and they rub against each other

and they don't want to meet. It's like, I just don't see it. It's interesting, but to me, it's a very odd fit, and I think fit matters in the NFL. I think Russell Wilson, like, announced it on his Instagram with a totally Russell Wilson-like announcement, and it's just, like, not how I think about what the Pittsburgh Steelers have done

for the last 50 years of my life. Right, because that announcement is kind of like, hey, Russell Wilson's coming to town. But Russell Wilson has to make the team. I don't consider that a total. guarantee. Russell Wilson has to win the starting job. I don't consider that a total guarantee. When a team invest, everyone's looking at it like, hey, they're not giving up anything. It's worth a shot. Okay, sure. It also means they're not trying harder at the quarterback position,

but it also means that they have nothing invested in Russell Wilson. And if he shows up to camp and Kenny Pickett, who all those Steelers fans were so excited about after last year and he finished his rookie season strong, fits a little better in the Arthur Smith system. It wasn't just Steelers fans, by the way. Fair. I was never big on Kenny Pickett. It was a wait and see on how he finished that year. But he could improve. He could show up and be a better, different player, and he could win that job. I think he'd have a chance. Or Door Norma 3. They have room here to add another player, whether it's a rookie or someone else to the mix, like Mason Rudolph coming back. Like, even that wouldn't shock me. They can do that because they didn't really give up anything for Russell Wilson.

And so I hesitate to just assume that he's the guy. He's the favorite. He's the most likely got to start. But Arthur Smith's offense is all about like play action, middle of the field, like back to the deep. Like Russell's Instincts at all that stuff. So I don't know. I guess I got to see it first.

I disagree. I think this is their quarterback. And you look at some of the, the, yeah, and he also is maybe. He's the favorite, but I don't assume. He might just be washed. I just think he's the guy. I think they brought him. in, and it's in line kind of with their recent philosophy about the quarterback position

and what he, maybe some of the things you're talking about with the offense, he doesn't do well, but they also have some talented receivers, and he could still throw a good deep ball, and they're going to run the ball a lot. I actually, what you're saying, Mark, I'm curious kind of what you meant by it, because for some reason, like Wilson and the Steelers kind of works for me in my brain. Like, I don't know why. It just, it does the magnets do connect for me on this, and I don't know if he's going to be successful. But again, like he is almost like Baker this year where the Steelers are getting

this depreciated asset for almost nothing. And, you know, even if he's a league average quarterback, then it's a huge win, at least in terms of roster building because of the money. Yeah. So like I said, like from a football angle and from a financial angle, I think it's a smart football move for any team in the league. And I do think he has a chance to surprise people. I don't think they would have done this if Arthur Smith also didn't sign off. And we've seen Arthur Smith take quarterbacks, Ryan Tannahill, who were, you know, thrown into a scrap heap and, you know, reclimate their career. I would, so from that angle, I've known a problem. I guess it's just, um, aesthetics. Like, it's like looking at a,

at a painting, we could see it differently. Like, my experience of the Pittsburgh Steelers and what I think about Russell Wilson, like, they don't match, but like, prove me wrong. I'm not saying I'm right about that. It just is an odd fit. Like, I could think of him going to five or six other places. The Steelers to me are just, like, they've always been something different. I, I'm, I'm, because what do you mean that? I'm sorry. What do you mean by that? Do you mean like me, me, me, like because he's sort of all about himself. Yeah, because I think like this. I think it's also like, yeah, it's like, this is like a Mike Tomlin, hard-nosed defensive team where like the quarterback was Big Ben for 20 years. It's like it's something about Russell Wilson is a, um, a bit of a creation to me. And I can't separate the quarterback from like the whole Russell Wilson.

He had Broncos and like marketing campaign and he was like in the entourage of the movie. It's like, it's not what I think of like. a Steelers quarterback and you know what I don't have a good I'm not I may not we could probably talk about it for two hours I may not convince you of this it's just like it's just the way that like a player and a team would not fit to a sports fan I find it to be like the odd it's not the fit that I would have picked yeah you don't yeah you don't have to convince me I was just more curious what what you meant it just strikes me as like I don't think they'll like I'm kind of surprised Mike Tomlin did it to be honest I think my biggest like a Mike Tomlin guy what I do agree with what I think maybe was you that said a last week or earlier this

week was that he doesn't seem like a guy that would handle being the number two very well. But I don't think that's what he's there to do because so, but if he is someone that's going to get supplanted, you even mentioned great, he might not make the team. I just, yeah, we're kind of in different places on Wilson. And maybe that's why this, I was saying it last night in the cab, like, Wilson is such great catnip for like podcasters and people talking football because he, there's just, he creates so many different, like, conversation points, even as his play has come down. Yeah, to be clear, like, I think the most likely outcome is he's their week one starter,

but he's a 36-year-old entering a new system. And I've just, we've just seen this enough that there are many potential outcomes. And the fact that they have nothing invested in, you know, financially in him, to me, and the fact that he might be like a bad backup and, and maybe there's too much, like, suggests to me like there's a chance here that it just goes poorly. And, you know, on the other hand, like, he is the most Big Ben, like, quarterback in the entire NFL. They're both divas in totally different ways. They're both very tough physically. They both have been knocked for being maybe, like, a little limited in terms of, like,

reading the defenses early in their career, but, you know, they can make some play. So who knows? Maybe he's the, like, 36-year-old version of Big Ben, which was, by the way, still pretty good. We can agree on one thing, though, Dan. I think that, you know, like, in that cab late at night, you, you coined this, the Rust, you know, lexicon, this tag, and I think it's going to grow. I think it's going to grow. Well, I don't know if we want to, yeah, the curtain on that one, if we want to pull it back or not. But as people know, Mark has retired from Twitter abruptly with a flaming screed against the

analytics community and then a sign-off and a wishing well of all of us. It doesn't mean Mark's out of the business as a guy that can punch up some scripts. I'll just leave it at that. well i think i think we're we're hoping the russell wilson era just for content had just has like a little more pop than the rust belt tweet got because we were we had very high hopes we had high hopes uh what what kind of numbers it would do dan even added at stealers at nfl that's just that's called tagging uh and that that typically leads to further engagement i was also catching some flack in the are you able to pull up this uh tweet by any

chance, Eric Roberts on short notice. I was also catching some flack about the photo that I chose, which, what needs to be understood, we're in a Uber going from one establishment to another last night and the news breaks. And the ideas, you know, in the car, I'm not going to say where it came from, because certain members of our podcast do not tweet anymore. But someone had mentioned, oh, man, Rust Belt. And, you know, Rust Belt. And, you know, Rust Belt. to do your research on the region in Western PA. And I, at that point, I'm scrambling. I'm like, I got to get this up.

We got to beat to market the competition, Rust Belt, as a catchphrase. So I pulled up the first photo, but I'm being told that the photo wasn't good enough, but the engagement's okay. A little fuzzy in the Broncos thing. Yeah, you can watch it on the YouTube now, you know. I think you were told by our actual, like, social team that wanted to, you know, elevated and said you've picked the wrong Not bad engagement, over 70,000

impressions. It's catchy. It'll be, I think it could take time, but I like I said then, I think it's possible Al Michaels will be welcoming us to Thursday night football in week 8, welcome to the Rust Belt and it's like really caught on. Did you know that Russell Wilson, this I was reading Barnwell today, as everyone must, ranked 21st in QBR last season, which was one spot behind Joe Burrow.

Wasn't that bad last year. I mean, 21st is bad though. Yeah, but like go check where Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph and every other Gibrony playing in Pittsburgh was last year. You don't want to look at Mason Rudolph because he'll look like he's Joe Montana.

I mean, his numbers are pretty huge. There's also like a couple incredible numbers about his season because like we've argued about like his numbers look good if you just like looked at a box, if you landed on Earth and looked at his box score, of the year, but like, like, 62% of his passes came within five yards of the line of scrimmage. That's like, that's, I played, I mean, that's a pop corner offense right there. He doesn't get a, John Payton coming with him.

All right. We're just getting started here. By the way, I have NFL Plus up on the secondary screen to be ready with any breaking news. But let's take a break. So quarterback news, done. We're going to dig into the running back. rooms of teams next. And it is

interesting there because there's some big names, not a hot draft class. So stay right there and we're going to get into it. All right, we are back. Let's get to the running back situation. Like I said, a lot of big names out there and I guess with

some surprise, a lot of them came flying off the board on the first day of the legal tampering period. Let's start. with Sequin Barclay, who goes from the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles, and I could tell you, I could tell you as someone who has a lot of fans of friends who are Giants fans, this one hurt. Saquan from the Giants to the rival Eagles stays in the division, $26 million guaranteed on a three-year, $37 million contract.

So the Eagles had a big day in general, but let's start with Saquan, who goes there, gets nice money. I love that the kind of analytically driven eagles, maybe the team that's most associated with the numbers over the last 10 years, are the team that gives Sequin Barclay to contract because that's the thing with Moneyball. It's all just about what the markets are saying. At a certain point, running backs have become so devalued

that now it's come back around, and a guy like Sequin Barclay actually is worth quite a bit. If you compare his salary, for instance, versus like Gabe Davis today. You could make an argument. I'd rather have Gabe Davis. I think the Eagles rightly made an argument. This is a guy who can play all three downs for us in Supercharge a running attack that already was great to like a totally different level.

And they didn't, I know it sounds like it's a lot of money, but it's really not much more than the types of offers. I think the Giants were giving him over the last couple of years that he just didn't want, I think, from the New York Giants, which is crazy. He's getting in a better situation, certainly a better offensive line, but he basically only got two years guaranteed, and it makes this offense crazy.

Like, look for explosive difference-making ability at any position, and don't close your eyes to it just because you're the Eagles and you're not supposed to like high-paid running backs. Totally agree. I think if you're right now listening to WFAN out in the tri-state area, this is psychological warfare because this is a team, the Eagles, that stole James Bradbury away from the Giants, when they couldn't figure out what to do with James Bradbury,

and the Giants for, you know, 600 days couldn't figure out how to solve their issues with Saquan Barclay. Last year, they franchise them. The season's a completely lost cause. The Giants look directionless right now. The Eagles swoop in, take, you know, the star running back away from New York, and they play them twice a year. This is juicy.

Like, this is the kind of stuff. When I tend to think that maybe the NFL is, like, just a deeply scripted operation that, you know, is basically a chapter-by-chapter drama. Like, this fits right in because now the Eagles have taken Sequin Barclay away from the Giants. I can see them playing each other in Week 1,

and it's everything you'd ever want from the NFC East. Revenge game. I love that for the Eagles. Yeah, that's true, Greg. The Eagles also take another player from New York, Bryce Huff of the Jets, goes to the Eagles on a three-year deal, and he gets good money too, Greg.

So that, you know, we talked about Huff, who has an incredible pass rush production. He led the Jets with 10 and a half sacks, and that despite being a part-time player, I think he played about 42% of the snap. So the Eagles projected that he can play more than that, for the money that they're paying and some other moves that they're making on their defense,

they're going to have a role for him, and we'll see if they try to turn him into the player the Jets didn't quite think he was. But as a Jets fan, you're afraid you let a star out the door. Yeah, $50 million. over three years, like, he's not a run stopper. I think in their defense, they're not going to really worry about that that much. They don't.

He reminds me a lot of Fassan Reddick, which makes me think Casson Reddick is not going to be on the Eagles. Both him and Josh Sweat have been reportedly on the trade block, and you figure one, if not both of them, are going to get dealt. And to me, he's the more one-to-one comparison with Reddick. Just a guy who, younger in his career, maybe didn't take advantage. And the Eagles have a good history of doing this final. these guys who have just pure pass rush and getting great production out of them.

I mean, they're, we said it coming into the week. They're not going to be done yet. They also gave Lannan Dickerson $87 million, including $50 million guaranteed their guard. Like, that's a contract actually that I think he'll see the whole deal, but he's one of the best guards in the NFL getting $20 million a year. And like, you think about that offense with Sequin, too, like, that's a fantasy football offense. I love the RETA comparison. like Devante Smith, Dallas got her in Barclay,

and they just want their defense to be good enough, I think, is the idea. I think the Reddick comparison is right on because there's numbers that came out after the signing where like Reddick played 400 more snaps than Huff. 11 sacks for Reddick, 10 for Huff. 13, tackles for loss for Reddick, 10 for Huff. It's like the Eagles a week ago looked like a malign team, a bit of a talking point,

and it's like they always find a way in the offseason to figure it out. And I think they found this one player that we've all looked at. It's like if you can turn Huff into like a full-time devastator, you've done something that not that the Jets couldn't do, but they didn't do last year. And you've taken, you've taken something away from the Jets. So the, and the Jets, they were never, they never seriously negotiated with him. So they, this I think goes back a lot to their move to take Will McDonald, 15th overall last year. And sometimes you could box yourself in with some of your decisions because

you took, you have Huff, who's a homegrown guy, was an undrafted, player and you turn him into a guy that was, you know, a real breakout player and you let him go in free agency because you have so much invested now as a draft pick and Will McDonald, I wonder if they could do it all over again and if they knew that Huff was going to make the leap that he made this year if they would have made a different move in last year's draft. What else? What else? I've noticed that we are in these hotel rooms. We each have the same painting on the wall, which is, I'd say slightly uncreative on behalf of the hotel. It's a nice hotel, not complaining about the hotel, but could have done a little more

there. Yeah. Well, they also didn't expect three bozos to be recording and showing the three hotel rooms. We want to mask them. One more point. You're not going to get me, because I know the Eagles will now have an amazing draft because, oh, Howie's the man. Everything else is still, that was a problem at the end of the year.

the head coach is still there. The quarterback is still there, and I know he's very talented, but the locker room seemed like a mess, and he played a role on that as well, in my opinion. AJ Brown right now is still there, and he was moping by the end of the year. I'm just saying, like, before we look at them as an all-star team,

remember, this was a team that was in chaos by the end of the last year, and they didn't exactly clean house. And in fact, they've lost, you know, in the center, Kelsey, We also had a retirement of Fletcher Cox, some leaders out the door. So to me, there's still a little wait and see how next season begins. I just want to add that as a rejoining. But you know what I like is they deliver?

Like the free agency year starts and it's like, hey, we're going to sign the guy, the hot shot pass rusher that we're going to take a big chance on, hey, we're going to sign Sequin Barclay. We'll keep our own guy and Landon Dickerson to it. Like we'll bring back Brandon Graham. It's like they're always doing stuff. And that's to me that's howie, motherfucker. fair. The Packers are doing stuff too. So Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon have been their combo the last few years. It's a good guy. It has been a good combo. Now, that slowed down a little bit last year. Dylan wasn't quite where he was and he's walking as a free agent.

Aaron Jones is still a productive player, but he's injuries have been an issue for him and he missed a lot of last year. So the Packers having some extra money to spend now that they have a quarterback on a rookie contract and Jordan Love decide to go get Josh Jacobs. So the Raiders, who had tried, made an effort to keep Raiders to keep their running back and the rushing champion last year. Ultimately, though, the Packers went harder for him and they land Jacobs and in a corresponding move,

they release Aaron Jones. So now they essentially swap out, as they kind of alluded to at the beginning of the show. They swap out Jones for Jacobs. I don't know if it makes them a better team, to be quite honest with you, but they do. So, you know, good luck to them. I don't know. I think like Jacobs is when you get the good version of Jacobs, a violent, easy to watch runner. And if you get that version in Green Bay, that fits very well. Aaron Jones was incredibly important to them when he was on the field last year. And I'm kind of with you, Dan. It's not that it's apples for apples, but a healthy Aaron Jones, personally, I would take over Jacobs. But that's just me. Greg, maybe you totally disagree. I don't know.

No, actually, I agree with you. I think he's getting up there. He's 29. He hasn't been able to stay on the field as much. You know, that's been a little bit of an issue for Jacobs, too, who's like one year on, one year off. I think all things being equal, Aaron Jones is better. I think they went into the day and even signing Jacobs with the possibility that they'd have them both.

But he was paid so much money, Aaron Jones, that I think they just felt that was out of bounds. And they had a number where they said, like, if you take a pay cut down to $8 million, I'm just throwing a number out there, then we'll keep you and we'll keep both. And so it wouldn't surprise me if they get in the running back market, whether it's the draft or another free agent. But they just decided he was getting paid too much. And Jacobs is three years younger. And so I guess that's a big deal, too.

Yeah, if you get 2022, Josh Jacobs, this deal is going to look amazing. He's been great every other year and, like, kind of curious, the other years. You mean like every other year? Yes. So now this is supposed to be a good, this should be a good year for Josh Jacobs. So they're time. It seems if that's what they were using internally as their compass on this, I'm concerned about the Packers.

They also, speaking of the Giants fans and the dumps, Xavier McKinney, the safety, he lands with the Packers on a four-year, $68 million deal. So that's a lot of money. It's a lot of scratch, a lot of guap for McKinney, but that's a defense in post-Joe Barry world that, you know, needed some reinforcements in the back end, and McKinney can deliver that. We just talked to Mina.

She talked about the fact that, like, the Packers, and we all agree that it seems like for ages they threw a ton of money and draft picks at safety and it kind of never worked and like he's only 24 years old like and I thought this was a player of the Giants in another universe might have franchise tagged when they didn't tag Zaquin and they didn't and they've lost two players and I think the Packers like added a piece to their defense someone who can be around for a long time based on his age and his skill. I love McKinney. I had him really high in the top 101 and he got paid because multiple teams were after my, I forget who the third team was, but I know the Eagles were in on them.

There was even a report earlier in the day that they were going to close that deal. And so that market went like very high for Xavier McKinney. But he is a good young player in that defense and that secondary. He's been a nightmare. All right. Here are the other running back deals that have gone down. DeAndre Swift, so the Eagles decide to get Barkley. So Swift goes out the door and he lands with the bears.

So he had a nice season, I thought, after. leaving Detroit and now Chicago as they retool their offense, most likely with a new quarterback as well. They add a playmaker and a guy that can make plays as a rusher and receiver. The Titans, they bring in former Cowboys running back Tony Pollard. So Pollard coming off a disappointing season in Dallas where he became the bell cowback and it didn't really take. So now he lands with the Titans and the Titans also needed offensive line help and they get it in Senator Lloyd Cushenberry formerly of the Broncos. So they get a new running back and a new center.

And by the way, if Pollard is their running back now, that means Derek Henry, which we kind of expected, is going somewhere else. And now it's just, we're waiting to see. I have a, I have a really strong feeling about where he's going to land. Maybe at the end of the show, we'll each share a prediction going into day two ahead of the new league year. Gus Edwards lands with the Chargers.

And the Giants, by the way, do sign a Devin Singletary, according to reports. So that's a slew of running back moves. You guys got anything? Yeah, Pollard and Tajay Spears is a fun backfield. I think people were a little hard on Pollard coming off of a broken ankle. But I also think that they view Pollard as a 1B and Tadji Spears is probably their 1A.

And I'm just a little surprise how quickly all these guys came off the market. But when people were getting all excited, be like, oh, the running back market is back. Like, it's a real thing. It's like, okay, they're getting paid like, the same as a fairly low level guard or about half as much as like a slightly above average guards and they're getting paid the same as like defensive you know rotation of they've been prioritized on the beginning of first day of pre-agency which is kind of different

than the past it is and they're making more money than they were a year or two ago to be clear deandre swift people will will probably forget this the minute this happens but he will always be the first player signed during the legal tampering period so So congratulations to D'Andre Swift and the Chicago Bears. I think we used to do sandwiches on that. We used to make predictions, which is one of the dumber things because it's not, you know, we don't have an official time stamp on these things, but.

I watch this running back market, and for me it's the holes it creates. And Dan, I won't steal your thunder about the Derek Henry landing spot, but there are a couple teams out there that have, like, absolute nothingness at running back right now after these moves. and I still think Derek Henry is the best back of every one of these players. I like him more than Sequan.

I like him more than Josh Jacobs. I like him more than Aaron Jones. I just do. I know I get the age. I get the mileage, but it's like I cannot wait to see where he lands. I think he's going to be also quite agitated with the fact that he's like the eighth running back to go off the board here. He's going to devastate someone and destroy someone come September. It's also funny that the Harbauser now sharing.

players. They share coaches, but like Gus Edwards, the first thing he does is go from John to Jim Harbaugh because Greg Roman is over there. And it's bizarre that that's the move the Chargers made today. I do think we're going to get some trades as we talked about, but that'll be later in the week. I'm not going to hit the breaking news on this, but the Giants and their fans could use some good news. There's something floating out there right now, but let's wait until we hear it from our guys. In other news, so we mentioned that the Raiders go and they get Gardner Minchu, and we'll see where he fits at the end of the day in their quarterback room. But they make a huge move, Mark, on their defensive line.

Ed and Christian Wilkins, formerly of the Dolphins, for 110 million, almost 85 of that guaranteed, a lot of guaranteed money being doled out to these big-time players. So this is a huge move for the Raiders, a team that seems to be acting in what you hear from the coach, doing a lot of talking. They think they're closer than other people might think. But there's no denying that Wilkins is a big time talent in the middle is going to tag team with Max Crosby on one of the best combos of any team up front in the league. Yeah, I mean, Max Crosby having to do it alone,

not unlike a Miles Garrett in years past before this past season in Cleveland, still wrecking people. And the idea of Wilkins in Max Crosby together is gives you, if you're Antonio Pierce, an identity. And I think that you're, that's a defensive coach. You suddenly, the Raiders defense, you've got to plan for Wilkins. I think if you want to find a player like them, you would have had to use your first round pick to get a player like him.

I'm not even sure there's a player in the draft like them. You might have to go years till you find someone like them. So the money's worth it. These are rare players. And I think if you're, for me, I know even in the last couple weeks, I've been killing the idea of like, a Chris Jones going to a lost team or we just don't hear from them again for four years. That feels like, the Raiders feel like that kind of team to me, but that's just bias. Like, I actually think that the Raiders made an aggressive move here. And either you do

or you don't, like whoever got Christian Wilkins, their defense becomes a completely different operation. I mean, he owes the dolphins in some level, on some level for letting him go and free agency. He got $84.5 million guaranteed. And the, in the dolphins could have kept him for one year, $20 million. So, like, that changed his life. They have the, I don't know what the word is, like, the most starting, you know, we'll have to beat that out. Like, defensive line in the league by far. Like, because who annoys offensive linemen more than Christian Wilkins?

Like, he gets in fights. Like, everyone, like, thinks he's sort of on the edge or over the edge. And putting him next to Max Crosby, that's just, like, kind of an insane duo. They also, both of them never leave the field. Like, Christian Wilkins is almost the defensive tackle version of Max Crosby. You can't stay on the field every staff. I'm a few are defensive tackle, but he's pretty close to that. I also like Malcolm Coons there at the end of last season,

so that's three guys like the Raiders. I'm doing something. I like it. That's the most, by the way, anyone's going to make, I think, in free agency other than Kirk Cousins. It's going to be Christian Wilkins. We'll go down. That used to be a sandwich prop we used to make, too. Kirk Cousins, I guess, would have won it, but Wilkins will be second.

The Vikings. So we mentioned Kirk Cousins is no longer their quarterback, and that leaves a gaping void. for that team. But there's still other work to be done. And Jonathan Gernard, there is a nice piece of the puzzle for them. Pass rusher. He goes to the Vikings for 42 million guaranteed four for 76. Blake Cashman, the veteran linebacker, also to Minnesota on a three-year deal. So that defense definitely needed some enforcements. So on that side of the ball, it's been a good day in Minnesota. Yeah, I think he was like, again, a guy who kind of was helped out by his team,

which is maybe a red flag? I don't know, because Houston was not in any cap struggles. They just decided, like, we don't want to invest that much in Jonathan Gernard. But in terms of, like, pressures and his age and pass rush win rate and everything you would want, like he is a one-for-one replacement for Daniel Hunter, who is still out there. I think he's the top player left on my top 101. I did a quick check before we started. I think 20 players that entered the day on the top 101 have been signed, but that's it.

That means 80 are still out there. but 25, 30 more were already taken off the board before it even happened as that list kept changing. But that's a nice move. But it showed me, like, the Vikings knew they weren't getting Kirk Cousins because this move happened right off the bat. This was one of the very first moves of Free Agency was them making sure that they got Jonathan Grenard.

I mean, even their decision and, you know, the GM put out a statement, like you said, and the decision that they made before last season when they decided to break off the extension talks. It seemed like the writing was on the wall and they want to build this a different way. You can't really hate on them because when you look at what he actually did, Cousins, despite all the production,

they never really got close. And now that it's time to change things up. So I understand that it does. I do have to say. I mean, I will say it. You know, I've been waiting. You know, this moment for Sam Darnold. Like, you keep on hearing whispers about Darnold and the Vikings.

I've been waiting for this guy to get a fair shot at a reboot, a proper reboot, since his Jets fiasco career, and that would work. That gives me Darnold as the QB with Kevin O'Connell and have Justin Jefferson, hopefully they'll get under contract. Then you guys, if he bombs out of there, you guys can bury me for it and laugh at me. But I think that would be a nice setup for him to potentially have his own type of Baker Renaissance.

They also have the 11th pick. They could move up. someone like J.J. McCarthy. I mean, I, I think they have. Or some people think they might trade up with the Patriots all the way to three and take take one of the top guys. Right. There just has to be another. There has to be another, like, but Dan, like, honestly, if the, the whole master plan here in two offseason rebuild was to get Sam Darnold. Like, you've got a gotten Sam Darnold.

It's a transition year for them. So if you go and get a guy on the cheap and maybe it works. I don't, I don't know, I don't know how many transition years you get in a row. It's like you, like, they were, they, they sold. players on the cheap last year. And I know they won 13 games in what was supposed to be a transition year. And then this truly was and they were they were kind of peeking at the moment that cousins got hurt. I think it was absolutely the right time to say goodbye.

You got to make tough decisions sometimes. And I think Quessie made it at the right time. I think the injury ended up making it a lot easier for them to do that. And I actually do think Darnel would make sense there. But that is the ultimate team of Zustiel. I mean, forget, we're not doing the Vikings ever again, but like, if, never again. And Dan is the most, I don't know something to think about. It is not something to his team of any person I know.

But if there was ever going to be a strong number two for Dan, it is Sam Darnold starting freaking Vikings. You always like for some reason, I don't really know why. As everyone, I know, as everyone knows, the jets are testing my patients like never before. and if that becomes very interesting to me. Like 50% G, my buddy Greg, who is at the Super Bowl this year, is a diehard Vikings fan. So I would even have like a buddy that I could, you know, connect with on it.

Let's just leave it out there and let it hang. They also signed Blake Cashman to a $26 million deal, a linebacker who I think Mina mentioned is one of her favorites. And they're definitely signing sort of like the hipster football Twitter favorites. and Grinard and Cashman. So you got that group. You know who else said it other than Mina? I said it.

You said it. You said it. Oh, you said it. I mean. You said that he was one of your favorite guys in free agency? No, I said that. I mentioned that in the news when we set up this Vikings conversation. But Dan, our list is still coming out.

So, I mean, he's not going to be on our list. It's coming out. Yeah. Tomorrow at midnight. So we have a lot, you know, more news to get to and everything. But are you guys a little feeling like, like you're getting caught with your pants down, that all these free agents,

I mean, we are literally reporting on the biggest names of free agency signing. Your list isn't even out. Our pants are like NFL network, the first year that they did the legal tampering period and didn't realize the big day was going to be Wednesday and not Monday. And on Monday,

they only like two people on air for four hours. And they were like, humana, we didn't know this was going to be the big day. Well, the answer is no. Yeah. Yeah,

we feel totally confident about our operation. They try bozo. It's coming out when it needs to come out at the proper time. It's coming out when it comes out, which is on the eve of the new league year. It's up for the readers to decide what they prefer. All right. And yeah, I know. And I see it.

And I see it in my mentions. People don't want to hear about, Dan's always on about Darnold. It's true. I'm so happy. It's finally like I felt like I was seeing Mina Kimes, who everyone respects Mina Kimes' opinion. I'm not alone on this.

No. I'm a lot of the annoyance. There's a lot of darn a love out there in the football love. But remember, I was striving that. If it ever turned out into something, just remember before everyone else found it fashionable. Dan, why would we have to remember when we will be reminded every single show about it? Like, I know you don't want this to happen because it's not that I don't, but it's like, like, well, I wonder we're not going on. I mean, Jeremiah had a number one with like a bullet in a class with Josh Allen and in Lamar.

Like, there's a lot of people that are invested in Sam Darnold. Give Sam a chance. All right. Let's move on. All right. Let's take a break. And we'll roll on. All right. Welcome back.

All right. Diving right back in. The Jaguars are active. The Jaguars have had a busy Monday here. They sign wide. receiver Gabe Davis, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, three years, 39 million, 11 million that's signing. Davis, who has had, you know, a checkered history in terms of being a productive player, but has always been enticing as a guy that can maybe take the next step. They also

get Darnell Savage in the building as well on the other side of the ball. So the Jags mark are busy. Yeah, I was kind of wondering what the Jags, like what their plan was this offseason. And Also wondering where Game Davis would wind up. I don't hate it. I mean, I don't know what's going to happen with Calvin Ridley, but they kind of lack a number one wide receiver to me. Because Gabe Davis, to me, is the quintessential sort of hot and cold guy who, like, he'll go a couple games where you're not sure he was even on the field,

but then he'll explode for 142 yards and be a deep threat. So I like it for Trevor Lawrence. They've added to their offensive line as well. It's like, you've got to build around him. He's a piece. That's what I'd say about him. He's just a piece. It takes away from the bills.

I don't know what the bills are doing because it seems like every couple of minutes like something is being taken away from Buffalo. Gabe Davis, I think, has a lot of potential, but the Jaguars have tried this before. They spend a lot of money in free agency at wide receivers to pretty middling results. I'm assuming Calvin Ridley is going to sign elsewhere

or they would not make this deal because Calvin really is a different type of player, but there's no way they're going to do both. It was not that expensive, though. I mean, he's signing for like a little less than, let's say, Juju signed for last year, you know, or Jacoby Myers signed for last year. That's reasonable to me, but this is a boom or bust type of office. He also signed Mitch Morse from the bills and not yet another player

from the bill. So there's a buffalo to Jackson. I don't, yeah, I don't love the, I don't love the signing. It sounds like they're trying to save money because Ridley's market got more expensive than they wanted, you know, to do that type of business. They were scared off by that. And Davis, like, If Josh Allen couldn't make him a thing, like I know he was kind of a thing. He was a thing in certain games, though. I know, that's what I mean, but not a consistent force

when he wasn't even seeing the number one cornerback most weeks with Stefan Diggs already there. Like, I don't know. Have you seen the analytics, though? He put out on Instagram because they were pretty impressive. I mean, he put him out on himself? It actually, yeah, he did.

He must have gotten him from his agency or something. but they were so overwhelmingly good that I actually bumped him up the top 101 just for that. Oh, good. See, it works to promote oneself. By the way, I meant to hit this when we were talking about

the running backs, but like I said, this is insider Christmas. It's a high pressure business. We have a live program on NFL network where we have all three of our insiders and we all know who they are. It's rap sheet.

It's the Pell Razor and Mike G. Okay? And when the Josh Jacobs news comes down, it's on live television. And Jacob's, and Ian has it first. And Ian takes out his phone, and he kind of pauses, and he starts to say it. And then he's texting in real time while he's on live TV. And he says that, you know, this is from me.

And in the middle box, so it's Siciliano in one box. Andrew, Pell Razor, and then Mike J, you see Pell Razor's face. He's like, give me the credit, loop me in on the scoop. Ian didn't loop him in. So here was Pell Razor minutes later when there was another bit of news to announce. That's right. The Rams signing Colby Parkinson, the former Seahawks tied in to a big deal. Three years, 22.5 million, including $15.5 million,

dollars guaranteed according to me and Ian see I'll give Ian credit on TV and though he stiffed me on Josh Jacobs right there Parkinson can void that deal what a lonely barren existence not just him just the job it just sounds like

are you ever satisfied are you ever do you ever go out for dinner and you're not on your phone the entire time are you sleeping with you know your phone next to your face Like, are you ever a human? Do you ever swim in a lake? You mentioned Gabe Davis, by the way. Gabe Davis did have eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns in that playoff game

against the Chiefs a couple years back. I mean, if there was a star-making performance that you could ever bank on, you would have thought that would have been in. And yet, the bills felt comfortable letting him go, which I think tells you a lot. and I'm not breaking news here. You hear this all the time. There's a reason why a lot of these signings don't work out. And the reason is a lot of these teams made internal decisions about these players

that they weren't somebody they wanted to keep around or not at a certain price point, but the Jags go and get Davis and we'll see what happens. They have like a two and a three. Kirk makes more money and he's a two and maybe Davis is a three or whatever. And for the insiders, you know, I do want to, I guess, give them credit. At some point, I don't know how it worked, But at some point, Rapsheet and Pellraiser decided, like, we have to join forces.

Because so many of these reports are the two of them. I don't know how that, how did that conversation go? I'd like to know. Why isn't Mike G involved in that thing where they're shared? Because they do share a lot, but they don't share all. Like, what is the decision-making process? I have a theory. Nobody knows.

Here's my theory. My theory is that when it comes to scoopage, like, you got to have that. dog in you. And Rapsheet and Pellraiser are both highly competitive. And there had to be some type of brokerage behind the scenes. So neither would get upset with the other. But you still see it bubble up in moments like that on live television where it can't be managed. Mike, on the other hand, I feel like he doesn't have that dog in him as a newsbreaker. Like he can do it. And if he wanted to, he could absolutely be like the other two, but he chooses a different path in life.

He wants that dinner. He wants to turn off the phone with his wife and have a nice dinner. That's what I think. That's what I think. Well, so when you're 80, what are you looking back on? And I'm not saying good or bad on anybody involved with that, but that's just how I see it. This is not a comment on any of them,

but I would say that Mike Garifolo seems completely secure with whatever role he's chosen. I also think it should be said in fairness that I would imagine that Ian and Tom enjoy having dinner with their family too. I would say that's probably true. We're not suggesting that's not the case. All right. Moving on, the Panthers.

Signed guard Robert Hunt to a five-year, $100 million deal with $63 million guaranteed. That seems like a lot, but the guards are getting paid. Giants sign Andrew Van Ginkle to $20 million over two years. That's your boy, Mark. That's your boy. Yep. And also, guard John Runyon gets 17 million guaranteed. In addition, of course, yes, to Devin Singletary joining the fray at running back. I love the hunt signing. I mean, the Panthers, I thought were lost from a front office perspective for years in a row. But he had the lowest pressure rate allowed of any offensive linemen in the league last year. And, you know, that whole offense needs help. I don't love Van Ginkle going to the Giants right now.

I mean, I grew up with the Giants, but it's like I want Van Ginkle plugged into a Super Bowl ready operation or watching him in January next season. Wait, how big a Van Ginkle fan are you, Mark? I think he's one of my favorite players in the league. I've mentioned this, you know, a couple of shows ago. What is it about, what is it about Van Ginkle

that really revs your engine? His name is sort of his whole, like, aura, persona. Some similarities to previous Mark favorites like Toby Gerhardt and whatnot. On the defensive side, but, you know, there's a commonality. No, that's not where we're going, by the way. Yikes. Like I said, though, there were how many Dolphins games, especially under Brian Flores, were like suddenly Van Ginkle's having like a crazy second half where he's like blowing people

up and making plays, like, he just stands out to me. And it's like, go do it for the Giants. He is officially your guy. I like these two Giants. Giants fans should feel the Singletary contract to me was one of the most mystifying of the entire day. Like I know it'll be backloaded, but like you really didn't have to pay that much money for Devin Singletary. I do like the Van Ginkle signing.

And I do like the John Runyon. Right, can we let the running backseat? Can we let one, you know, a couple of these guys get maybe a slight overpay? But he was so clearly like there was like seven guys that were worth paying available and he was like the eighth or whatever. You know what I mean? Like if you were going to pay him that much money, just pay an extra couple million to keep Sequin Barkley. That part I didn't get. But Runyon was at a more fair price.

And the Hunt deal, it sounds crazy. Everyone was like, whoa, Robert Hunt. But when they don't put the specifics, they didn't put the guaranteed money in the, at least in terms of how it was structured. They did say 60. It's probably, you know, the last couple of years are fake. And he's a big time player, a big time guard. And guards are getting paid, I think just because so many of them hit the market that are actually quality starters. And there just aren't many positions where like young in prime players hit the market.

And there happened to be like 10 guards. who were playing at a pretty high level. But, like, the Dolphins lost so many players today. Maybe this is the time to just mention it. One of the Dolphins beat riders, I think it was Joe Shad pointed out, the Dolphins need right now after losing all these players today, two starting defensive tackles. Of course, they just lost Wilkins.

They also lost Van Ginkle. A starting cornerback, they had cut Zavian Howard. A starting safety, Brandon Jones landed in Denver. Two starting guards. a starting inside linebacker, a starting center, two heavy usage edge players, and three backup wide receivers. So that's what they think the dolphins need. They think they're in trouble now.

Wait until they give $2.40 million a year for like three years. Might be partly what they're saving up for. And they will make some signings. It's not like they're just kind of like sit out free agency. But then also Buffalo is, Buffalo has had to, I know everyone's like the cap doesn't matter. It doesn't even exist. It's a ghost. but like that's that's that's no Greg says that cap does matter no but no i i say it's like

it doesn't matter i don't i think either one of them is a little too simplified but i would say buffalo has had to make some moves cap because of the cap they've had to make some moves and lose some players and it's like a year ago it was like will every team in the a fc east make the playoffs it's like buffalo is not better right now on any level and the dolphins are missing like 12 players not good really you hate to see it uh Another move at Interior Line, Ram sign Jonah Jackson for $34 million guaranteed on a $51 million deal. Was he good last year? Was it like what is that?

He's been very consistent. I would say throughout his career. He definitely missed some time for Detroit last year, but he's played a lot and always been thought of as a good guard. That price and Kevin Dodson's price for the RAM really surprised me. They got very similar money, but I think they're going to let their center Coleman Shelton, I'm guessing, leave. and they're going to move their guard last year, who was a rookie, Steve Avila, who looked great and move him to center.

And suddenly you've got, on paper, one of the best interior offensive lines in the league. They must have thought they really hit on something last year with an interior offensive line that was playing well. So that's like their thing. That's what they decided to spend all this cap space on was interior offensive line. Pretty interesting.

Well, how about this, Mark? You mentioned the bills. What are they, you know, are they better? Are they worse? You know, the dolphins? well, how about keeping Dionne Dawkins in the building? There's some positive news in Buffalo. This was reported first by Schaefter

that the bill signed Dawkins to a three-year $60.5 million contract extension. And this has been a durable rock on their team. Also a bit of a weird kind of story around this one because yesterday, I think it was? No. When was it? It was morning.

It was five minutes before. The new, or like 20 minutes before the news actually came out that he's re-signed with the bills. Talk about your all-time shaky bits. Five minutes before he goes on social media and basically announces his career with Buffalo is over, which I don't know who, I mean, where the laughs are, you're essentially antagonizing and bumming out your fans in Buffalo. And then it turns out, unless there's something more to the story, that was all just an elaborate ruse. because then the report comes out that he is staying indeed in Buffalo

and will continue to anchor that line. So cool bit, bro. It's a faulty bit because there's enough players out there on Twitter making it clear that they're learning news at the same time that civilians are, the same time we are. And like, I guarantee unless he, you know, set up this like faulty bit with everyone on the roster

ahead of time, which seems unlikely because the whole thing was sort of a mess, Like he's got teammates floating out there thinking that he's leaving the team for a while too. Well, what about like 20 minutes? You're right. Dequan Jones actually did respond to his tweet being like, what the heck, man. The tweet that he sent out was it was Goodwell at last at Buffalo Peace. Excited for this next chapter of my football career.

I wonder if it's okay to eat ranch now. And I think he even did a press conference today. And he just said, I just woke up and felt like being a troll, you know. Wow. You ever get it happened to me once, but I think a lot of people, can relate to it. You have a buddy who breaks up with his girlfriend and the girlfriend sucks. And then you kind of share that with him after they break up and then they get back together.

But you've shared the information, your true feelings. You know, he also risked one of his teammates like Stefan Diggs, for example, being like, whatever, bro, we didn't like you anyway. And that would have made a massive situation. People love him. just saying like you risk you open the door for that scenario you know yep you might not you guys never had that situation with a friend by no no you're right and it reminds me of people that ask you what you think of different possible baby names before they actually name their baby don't give an opinion

there's a chance that that ends up being their baby's name and then they will remember that for their child's entire life and you'll even you know you'll know that looking at that child so you did this Greg. This happened to you. You were the, you critiqued a baby name. No, no, but I do know it was a close, a close friend this happened to. Tough sitch. Classic all-time, tough sitch. That's like a no-win situation. Oh, yeah, I don't like that name. It's like, oh, what did you name your baby? Oh, yeah, that name I mentioned before. Well, also the situation, just a little more context, what gets tricky is when you're having that conversation with your buddy, and of course, this can happen with, you know, the fairer sex as well in a reverse scenario.

you're trying to cheer him up and you're trying, because he's down in the dumps about it. And he's like, I can't believe it didn't work out. And you're like, and you're just trying to make him feel like he didn't lose the greatest thing he ever had. So you're also trying to beat him from that side. And then it all blows up in your face. So just be careful with that. Baby name thing, sure, that is well. Just a lot of minefields out there.

The bills, by the way, are also bringing back AJ Eponessa, which is breaking right as we're talking. So that's another point in my thing that the cap is real, but teams keep the players. A point in my thing that the cap is real. Point in my favor is like, okay, they got rid of all these guys in Buffalo.

It's like, oh, this is sad. The cap is very hard. That's all true. Dion Dawkins, who is getting paid a lot of money, but actually still playing at a very high level that they think will continue, they figured out a way to change his contract around, give him even more money,

because he's playing at such a high level. So if you have players you want to keep, you keep them like they kept up in NASA, too. I'm Switzerland in the is the cap real or not camp. I just don't give a f***. All right. Let's keep moving. Let's keep moving because we must.

Michael Pittman, this works out for everybody. We didn't need to figure out whether Michael Pittman was really good or not or worth a lot of money. Just let the cults keep them, and they seem to like him. And so Michael Pittman gets a three-year, $46 million deal, or a three-year deal, $46 million of it guaranteed. Where does that stack up, Gregie, in terms of the wide receiver market? Is that tier-t, as to use of Steve Smithism, is that tier two money, tier one, low tier one or tier two money?

Yeah, it's like on that borderline. I think it'll wind up looking like tier two money. It's perfect for Michael Pittman. It's like a little more than the franchise tag, but it's not like you're the man. Is Michael Pittman the Dalton line for wide receivers? Like, have as you're like number one guy? For number one, it's a little weird to make number one receivers the Dalton line. But yes, for like a number one to number two receiver, I think he would be that line.

Wait, do we have a new offseason series? It's time to expand the Dalton line universe. Right. To say you're a number one, then you're like in the top, you know, in theory, 20, 25 in the league, whatever it's going to be. So, yeah. Sounds like a chore. But to the point with the Dalton line is that at that point, you don't have a solution as a true playmaker.

Mark, it's something for you to kind of get working on. It's too confusing because every team needs two to three receivers and he's not the 16th best receiver in the league. Isn't that where the Jaguars are? They don't have a number. Well, their teams out there are like the to the Titans have a, do you consider DeAndre Hopkins the number one at this point? Kristen Kirk looks more like the Dalton line.

Someone like him. This might be something to chew on, that's all. Mark, something to chew on. I'm not saying it's a fully formed idea, but something really to get in the lab and try to see if we could make something. I will heavily consider it. Well, we're on the Colts.

They're sort of like, to me, one of the more forgettable teams from the 20, 23 seasons. Sorry, I know you were in the mix, but once Richardson was hurt, it was just, to me, they weren't a fun watch. They've had the most... The Colts.

I'm saying sorry to the Colts. Oh, to the Colts. Yes. I think Mark was in on the Colts, They've had the most boring day one of free agency, too, which is they just re-signed all their players. They re-signed Tyquan Lewis. They re-signed Grover Stewart to a surprisingly big deal, but I like Grover Stewart, and they re-signed Pittman. So it's just like, Chris Ball is just like, we like our guys. Let's stick with them. Yeah, and let's bring back Richardson, and hopefully

Richardson's healthy, and maybe we got take the leap. They comported themselves with grace and dignity considering the injury mark and that was my comment and i thought that their defense was you know nasty on a week-to-week basis and they made the playoffs with a backup quarterback that says a lot about the team they did not make the playoffs but they were not made the playoffs with the back it felt it felt like the playoffs to be fair it was like it was a battle it was like the play in game for the NBA the battle for the 14 seed in the NFL which they barely lost tough sit for them, but Gardner Mintz, you nearly took him to the promise land. There's no such thing as barely lost.

Either one or you lost. That's it. Barely. That's it. All right, we got to take one more break and then we'll finish the news. All right, we're back. Let's close this out. This is more in the realm of speculation, but keep an eye on it because we've been talking

about wide receivers all show, and that market is fast drying up, but there are still teams out there that are desperate to add wide receivers. So T. Higgins, who got tagged by the Bengals, their number two guy, that's a good example. T. Higgins is the number two on his team, but I think he's almost certainly better than Michael Pittman, right? Like, or, you know, I think. Yes.

That type of thing. So Tiggins, Higgins is that type of guy. So when he looks around at the landscape, he says, all right, you're going to tag me, but you're not willing to give me the long-term deal. I request a trade, he said. He declared it. So we'll see, did they grant him that request? Well, he's a franchise tag.

So it's kind of funny because he's allowed to get traded. He doesn't even need to get. You don't need to get permission. I mean, you get it a little early. But any team can sign a franchise tag player. He's unsigned. They just give up a lot, but they can, they could. So it's a little.

He has the tag fixed to him, correct? Correct. have to give up fix? Doesn't that grant the team that has affixed the tag? Doesn't it preclude that player from being in the mix and free agency with a certain designation? Well, in theory, teams could sign them to an offer sheet and they would have to give up two first round picks, which everyone knows is going to be too rich for T. Higgins. So yes, I guess the Bengals would have to give permission on some level to talk about different trade terms, but we know how this works. But like Sneed with Kansas City as another example in this realm, they're on board with

Yes. We don't have any indications that the Bengals are entertaining offers, but he would like to be on the move. But the Chiefs or the Bengals could accept less than the two number one. Remember, this happened with Jimmy Graham back in the day, too. It was like, if they really wanted to move Higgins or it became a thing, like you can accept your different terms. Right, you can do what you want.

Matt Castle, I think was one of those guys back in the day. Knowing the Bengals, they're not going to, him like declaring this is only going to make them be like, sorry, bro. We want you for one more year. I don't think they're going to do anything. This makes them want him more. They're like, oh, you really want to go? You're not going anywhere.

Eric Armstead, also, the Niners. He is expected to be released by San Francisco, so he'll enter the fray. The commander's sign, yes. I think he's in my top 30 of my free agency list. I was quite surprised. He was still playing pretty well last year. They did sign Leonard Floyd.

as we were taping to a two-year $20 million contract. So they basically decided to get a similar-ish player. I know Floyd's more of an outside guy, but good run-stopper, but for much less money than Armstead was making. But a weird move. Weird move. I'm looking at a name right now that I'm really, I'm in trouble. I'm going to say it right now.

The commander signed former Cowboys defensive end. This one's not that easy. Dorrance, Durrance? Dorrance, Armstrong. Doran's Armstrong, $33 million over three years, but also center, Tyler. Biotich. Biazsche. Biotich.

And as we were taping. Tyler Biace, oh. As we were taping also our number one or my number one out off ball linebacker, Frankie Louvo, to a three year, a $36 million contract. So they're active, if nothing else. And two of those guys were Dan Quinn's players in Dallas. Armstrong, I thought, is a nice value there. I really liked how he played in Dallas.

Frankie Louvre is sort of, for me, like, a Van Ginkle type where it's like, I really, I think Frankie Louvre is an excellent addition, big hire. Constantly creating problems. Why are you making a face? I don't know. I just like, I like Mark's kind of nebulous guys. I got stuck watching the Panthers a lot early in the year last year. and I just noted that, like, whenever it's writing my notes for our show,

like Lou Vu kept just doing things over and over, and I think it's a good, I don't know, I never trust the commanders as a landing spot, but I have to remove what's happened my, like the last 20 years up until now. We'll see. Right. These actually seem like the sort of like mid-wadage, just solid NFL players that are improving and in the middle of the career that you want in free agency, very uncommanders.

So I think it's a nice day for the commanders. I really like the Armstrong coming. into this whole thing. He was one of my guys that I wanted. Pinch me, Patriots talk. Kendrick Bourne resigns with the Pats, $19 million over three years. He's coming off an ACL, so it is an ACL, right? So hopefully he'll be healthy and a contributor.

Devante Parker, another big time move that they made a couple years back, did not work out. So he's been released. Greg? I mean, Bill Belichick signing Devante Parker to another contract last off-season is, you know, one of the more regrettable moves that didn't involve the name Juju Smith-Schuster for the Patriots. Patriots also added Antonio Gibson.

Oh, yeah, that's kind of fun. I do like that. The wide receiver room is pretty rough the last few years, in general, just the decisions and the production and the highlight plays or lack thereof. It's pretty rough. I do like them as the last second field option, although I wouldn't want that to stop them from drafting one.

You know, you brought up Belichick. Imagine, you know, Kirk Cousin signed with Bill Belichick's team today. That would have been cool if the Falcons made that move, but maybe Raheim Morris will be better. All right, 8 o'clock to light, hit it. Colt signs Ayr Franklin, three years 31 million. The Jags signed former Bill Center Mitch Morse, 10 million over two years. Graham Glasgow, re-signed by Detroit, $20 million.

He gets in that deal. The Bengals bring back Titan Drew Sample on a three-year contract. The Patriots sign Antonio Gibson, the running back. Cardinals signed cornerbacks Sean Murphy, Bunting, and Bilal Nichols. The Colts hang on to defensive linemen Tyquin Lewis and Grover Stewart. And the Texans signed one-time top three pick of the lines. Jeff Acuda to a contract.

They also bring in former Titan Danico Autry. I like that atry move I like those Texans seem like they're doing smart things very disorienting Jeffa I don't know the Grenard thing still little weird to me

the Grinard thing but they must know something that we don't also if you're a fan and your team didn't make this show or you're Nick Wesleying and you're texting us I mean what are the what is the Bengals plan like same old stuff just come down it's day one of free agency

there's going to be a lot of more stuff that's going to happen. Oh, the Jets signed Greg Zerlein. They bring back Greg the leg. And I think Will Lutz had a change of heart. Should we leave that as a cliffhanger? Yes. You need to find that out on your own.

The report was he was going to go to Jacksonville and Sean Payton would not let his man go and he brought him back to Denver. Dan, we're going to give us your Derek Henry fantasy scenario. Oh, why don't we do it? When I say I'll go one, two, three, go, and then we'll all say where we think is the perfect landing spot for Derek Henry. Okay. Well, all right.

Greg, sit it out because you can't go along with anything. All right. Me and you, Mark, you're ready? I'm just trying to think of something. One, two, three, go. Ravens. Yeah. It just makes so much sense.

It does. It does. Can't you, you talk about, you were talking about Big Ben, you were struggling with him in Pittsburgh. Like, God, he just, he would, you could pour him into. that Ravens Purple and it just today you could see him running in January and finally getting them over the hump and closing out some ball games and they can happen it's baltimore is the perfect place to pick up a veteran that's apparently everyone else including the smart titans have decided we're done with this guy and he rolls into a Baltimore operation that probably goes to playoff

games deep because of him i love the fit um you could see it today and he would destroy people left and right post-November. And you kind of alluded to this regarding the Giants earlier. We have had some mild confirmation from Albert Breer that Brian Burns and the Panthers are in talks with the Giants for a possible trade, but nothing finalized, and that's been apparently going on for a while, so that would be a spicy meatball. I mean, you know, Kavon Tibado, friend of the show is strong. but certainly took a big leap forward in year two.

Tibado and Burns, okay, there you go, Giants fans. That would be something to hang your head on. Now, let's see what the Panthers are asking for. I mean, would that cost them, geez, first round pick? I could see it. Maybe next year's first round pick. Yeah, they can't do it this year, right? Maybe a two this year and a one next year.

And then all of a sudden, in this, well, it's not ahead of ourselves. It's not going to be that much. It's not going to be that much. I know they turned down two first, but the market's, it's different now. It's a different because you have to pay them right now, and it's just different. You might be able to get them for a two, and then I would be happy with that. I love Panthers management turning down two first round picks for Brian Burns. And just remember, Dan, it's Kvon, Burns, and Van Ginkle.

Hmm. Now we've got something going on in New York. The tide is turned in this very day for Giants. Singletary because, hey, you got it. You got to get Singletary in the building right off the bat. You drafted them in Buffalo and you don't want to pay SACON. I think unless they're going to get a quarterback, the Giants think they got to really think hard now and checking in on Justin Fields if they haven't

already. That could be all right. All right. See, there's a lot more to come. And as soon as we finish this podcast, more news will break. and it will be annoying, but also we did threaten vengeance upon any newsmakers and, you know, teams that break our code of not dropping news right after we finish recording. So hopefully news breaks overnight at the earliest or early tomorrow and then we'll be back. We're getting on a bird tomorrow, hopefully with a trophy in hand as we go to the IHeart Radio Awards tonight.

Had a nice time last night. They had a private party, and it was, you know, all the nice, nice little crowd, intimate gathering at this really nice hotel of St. Cecilia Hotel here in downtown Austin. We saw the Black Keys who did a nice 45-minute set of, you know, good like Heartland, Americana rock, good stomp to it, a good kind of dirty Detroit-style rock from the Cleveland-based Black Keys. Mark was enjoying himself. Greg seemed to be okay with it. Everybody was having a nice time. I enjoyed it. What are you talking about?

You had a great time. Well, you were to, you know what I noticed? I moved. I moved. I was enjoying it. You were on the side of the stage. Mm-hmm.

And then when I rotated around to the front of the stage for the second after the show, it was like, oh, these guys actually sound great. From the side of the stage, you couldn't hear it as well. And I was like, ah, Greg would have really like this. Well, you flagged us. We should have texted me. It was only like 20 feet away. or just come, come over.

You seem to be, because I could see you, I had a good sight line. It was a very small gathering, and you seemed to be in gross conversations. So I said, I'm going to let Greg be. But that I did, I caught the cess dog's eye, and I waved my arms, and cess dog rolls over.

Yeah. We had a great time. I miss quite an interesting crowd. I'll leave it right there. It's always tricky at a concert. Do you want to be on the side and have like a direct view? You know, we were only like, what, 20 feet from him?

or whatever, 15 feet from him, or if you're a smaller man like myself, do you want to go in the morass in the front and either not be able to see or burrow your way up to the front, which is possible when you're a troll-like figure like myself? You know, there's a lot of decisions that go into it. I just felt like a chill night. I'm just going to chill on the side with a great sight line. But you're right.

No judgments, bro. No judgments at all. And tonight we're going to meet up with our old buddy, Matt. Tanton, who's worked on our show in the past. He's living out here now. We're trying to get some good Texas barbecue and then, yeah, head to the award show. Mark, you have predicted victory for us, as I understand. I feel strongly that we will win. That's what I've said. The feeling grows. Initially, I thought we had no chance. We're going against, you know, Travis and Jason Kelsey, who seemed to have, like, America in their vice grip at the moment. So it would be an incredible

upset. But I believe that we're that type of show. We've always been that type of show. And we're hours away from a colossal American story. Now, when I found out Club Shay Shay is like us also distributed by Iheart, but even more directly. I thought that was possibly a bad bit of news for us. Mark brought up this theory that we're going to win around a couple of I-Hart executives, I believe, last night. And One of the women said, you know, it's just all about being dominated. So I was like, oh, shoot, she, that's not a good sign. That's not a good sign because I think she knows. I think she knows.

I believe that we will lose. I believe that we will lose. Tight end Will Disley agrees to a three-year, $14 million contract with the Chargers. So Greg did not give Disley any respect in his free agency 101. But obviously the Chargers thought highly of them. And I do believe that Jim Harbaugh knows a little bit about ball. So heads up on that. I mean, I agree.

He just didn't make the 101. He was on R213. He made less. And we had a nice blurb too. He said Colby Parkinson from the Rams. So, I mean, let's not get too crazy. I do think the chargers are going to be the team of the next couple days, by the way. Maybe they'll sign DeNiel Hunter.

They'll sign some, like, crazy players and make some trades. They're going to do lots of crazy stuff. Mark, you're will, you're will. disley, uh, what was your blurb? Blurb was unbelievable. It's unfortunate. It's going to be lost in the edit, but that's okay. It's part of the process. Um, it, I think you just have to enjoy the process and realize that some of your better work is going to be, you know, invisible, but not to yourself. Not to yourself. We've lost roughly 2100 words of, uh, content so far with guys come off the board. You guys are like, uh, Sophia Coppola's, uh, Elvis movie. Was it, was it good? Was it bad?

Who knows? Because an Elvis movie came out like right before. and no one wanted another Elvis movie. I'll just go again, Mark, I got this. No. Just the no. Actually, I saw the Coppola. It was a solid B minus. That is Coppola.

Coppola, sorry. Coppola. All right, that's it for this show. Yes, we'll be back. If we have a trophy, that would be amazing. Like with the Oscars that just happened on Sunday, everyone gets an Oscar, right, when you win.

like if you win you know best cinematography like everyone on the team gets an Oscar right like we're going to get three trophies right yeah like everyone in our building apparently even people deep in the IT department have Emmys

and we are the three people without Emmys apparently in the entire building right and so yes they give it to everyone except for us apparently so this is our vengeance yes are you asking well one of the three one of us get a trophy

and who's I don't think I mean I guess It's like a trophy. Best supporting actor, you know, just one guy gets it there. Well, we could keep it in the Chris Wesley podcast studio. Or we could kind of have a rotating. We could have Eric maybe work up an Excel spreadsheet and we could kind of share it throughout the year, have, you know.

Or spread the baby. Just cut it into three parts and we each take a part home. Yeah, well, that's an option as well. Big Funk chimes in in the chat like the Stanley Cup. Yeah, you take it home, you get drunk with it. You have a good old time with your friends and then in the hand to the next person, hopefully without a dent.

Don't the Kelsey's have enough? Don't they have enough at this point? Who? They have enough. Who? The Kelsey's. They've been given enough. They're not going to get it.

You got 45 minutes speeches. I don't like this club shay-shay thing. You do one interview that goes viral and now we're going to give them awards. I think it's very popular in general. Eric, you could hit the music literally anytime. There is a trade, though. we have developing news.

The Lions are acquiring cornerback Carlton Davis from the Bucks, according to the Pellraiser. And he's not sharing this scoop. He's putting this out all by himself. That's a player who makes, you know, over $15 million a year. That's what some people would consider a number one cornerback. That's a big time trading. You're getting played off like it's the Oscars.

Congratulations. Till tomorrow, heed the call. This is an IHeart podcast.